Vodka

VODKA DONE RIGHT

Like a great Southern party guest, TOPO Vodka has enough character and depth to carry the conversation alone, but it classy and smooth enough to mix nicely with others. Cocktail Enthusiast agrees:"Topo Vodka is crystal clear in the glass and presents a beguiling nose. It's sweet–really sweet–with lots of buttery vanilla rather than your typical vodka neutrality."

Fill a shaker half way with ice and add all ingredients. Shake vigorously until very cold. Pour into a tall glass and add a cucumber slice garnish.

*To make Cucumber Juice, combine one cup of chopped cucumber (large chunks with skin on) with two cups water in a blender. Blend until fully pureed.

**To make jalapeño simple syrup, bring 1 cup of water to a boil. Add 1 1/2 cups of sugar, stir until dissolved. Turn down heat and add 3 sliced jalapeño peppers. Simmer for 5 minutes on low heat. The longer the mixer simmers, the hotter the syrup. If the mixture is still not hot enough, add habanero pepper slices. When the desired heat flavor is reached, remove from heat, strain and chill. (Be sure all pepper seeds are removed.)

*Make cucumber juice by chopping, peeling and seeding a cucumber, then puree with a pinch of salt and strain through cheese cloth. Combine vodka, cucumber juice, lemon juice and basil syrup with ice in a shaker and shake until very cold. Pour into collins glass, Top with ginger ale. Garnish with basil leaf.

**Make basil simple syrup by bringing 2 cups sugar, 1 cup water and about a 1/2 cup of chopped fresh ginger to a boil. Boil and stir for 10 minutes to dissolve sugar and infuse. Let sit and allow to cool, then strain. Store in fridge for use on the bar.

TOPO Organic Spirits

Top of the Hill Distillery is the only certified organic and fully-local distillery in the South. We distill the award-winning TOPO Organic Vodka, TOPO Organic Piedmont Gin and TOPO Organic Carolina Whiskey in Chapel Hill, North Carolina from grains grown less than 100 miles from our distillery.